Two Day/Two Night Tour of Bruny Island

A comprehensive tour of all of Bruny's highlights. All 12 of Tasmania's endemic species. Night tours to visit penguin rookery and search for nocturnal birds and mammals.

Overview:

On this inclusive and comprehensive tour you will enjoy most of the natural wonders of Bruny Island. You will enjoy a walking tour of the Inala Private Reserve for a chance to see the Endangered Tasmanian endemic Forty-spotted Pardalote from the purpose-built canopy platform and enjoy raptors such as the Tasmanian subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the white morph of the Grey Goshawk from the raptor hide. We will also enjoy Bruny's spectacular coastline at Adventure Bay, where we may find Hooded Plover and visit the site of collection of the first botanical specimens of the genus Eucalyptus. We will also visit a patch of cool temperate rainforest, enjoying a stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree-ferns while searching for the elusive Tasmanian endemic small-brown-birds: Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill, as well as the striking Pink Robin. We will also explore the rugged southern coastline of Bruny Island and observe the magnificence of the Southern Ocean in all its splendour from Cape Bruny, the location of Australia’s second oldest lighthouse (next stop Antarctica…). Coastal highlight species include Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Brown Quail and Beautiful Firetail. We may even see a whale in the distance. There may also be time to visit some different habitats and wetlands on North Bruny. This area of the island only receives half the average annual rainfall of South Bruny, and the different vegetation and birds on this part of the island reflect this. You will also have two nocturnal excursions, including a visit to the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Eastern Quoll, Long-nosed Potoroo, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook are also possibilities, with an outside chance of seeing the endemic Tasmanian Bettong or the endangered Masked Owl.

This photo of a Pink Robin by Chris Tzaros. These gorgeous birds may be seen in mosit forest patches on the Inala Private Reserve.

Start Location:

Bruny IslandTAS

Australia

Finish location:

Bruny IslandTAS

Australia

, , , ,

Day 1: The tour will begin with a walk with one of our expert guides around the Inala Private Reserve, a 500 acre (205 ha) Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all 12 Tasmanian endemic birds. View at close range the Endangered Tasmanian endemic Forty-spotted Pardalote from the purpose-built canopy platform within one of its largest known colonies, raptors such as the Tasmanian subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the white morph of the Grey Goshawk from the raptor hide, and the uncommon white morph of the Red-necked Wallaby. Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitats.

After this, your guide will drive you to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay to see beautiful beaches, and cool temperate rainforests containing some Gondwanan and Tasmanian endemic flora. Have lunch by the beach, and stroll along the shore in search of Hooded Plovers, White-bellied Sea-eagles, and Kelp and Pacific Gulls and, if you are lucky, Humpback Whales, dolphins, Shy Albatross, and rafts of thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters. Then visit the site of collection of the first botanical specimens of the genus Eucalyptus and learn about the ecology of wet eucalypt forest and the relationship between eucalypts and cool temperate rainforest, and stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree-ferns while searching for the elusive Tasmanian endemic small-brown-birds: Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill, as well as the striking Pink Robin.

Your guide will return you to the Inala Reserve in the late afternoon, so that you can settle into your cottage and freshen up before dinner.

After dinner you and your guide will visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Penguins can be viewed during most of the year, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. Your guide will then return you to your cottage at Inala for the night.

Day 2: Generous breakfast provisions comprised of fresh local produce will be placed in your cottage for you to prepare at your convenience this morning.

Your guide will collect you from your cottage after breakfast, and you will begin by exploring the spectacularly rugged southern coastline of Bruny Island and observe the magnificence of the Southern Ocean in all its splendour (next stop Antarctica…). This includes a visit to Cape Bruny, the location of Australia’s second oldest lighthouse, and possibly Cloudy Bay beach, to view spectacular coastal formations and interesting vegetation types including coastal heathlands. This tour also provides a good chance to see Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Brown Quail, Beautiful Firetail, Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo and Dusky Robin, as well as the Short-beaked Echidna (one of our egg laying mammals). We may even see a whale in the distance. Fur seals, Albatross and some of the Southern Ocean Penguin species have also been sighted on these beaches. Lunch will be supplied en route. If time permits, your guide may also lead you on a walk to some lagoons on North Bruny Island for the chance to see a number of water birds. North Bruny Island receives only half the average annual rainfall of South Bruny, and the different vegetation and birds on this part of the island reflect this. Your guide will return you to your cottage in the late afternoon so that you can freshen up before dinner.

After dinner, there will be an opportunity to take another evening tour to view some of Bruny Island's nocturnal wildlife such as Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, and Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums which are also found in a rare near-albino colour morph on Bruny Island. Long-nosed Potoroo, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook are also possibilities, with an outside chance of seeing the endemic Tasmanian Bettong or the endangered Masked Owl. Your guide will return you to your cottage for the night.

Day 3: Leave Inala after breakfast and connect with a morning ferry back to Hobart, with an estimated time of arrival back in Hobart one hour later.